Fast Fun Facts on North Carolina

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North Carolina became the 12th state on Nov. 21, 1789. Although it has been disputed, some historians believe that North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England via the Mecklenberg Declaration of 1775. Today the state offers visitors a wide variety of attractions, including several historical sites, hiking and biking trails, miles of white-water rapids, museums, military installations and a long coastline of beaches. Fishing, skiing and golfing are also popular in the state.

Famous Births

The 11th president, James Polk, and the 17th president, Andrew Johnson, were born in North Carolina. Virginia Dare, the first person with English parents to be born in America, also was born in North Carolina.

State Symbols

The state reptile is the eastern box turtle, the state insect is the honeybee and the state shell is the scotch bonnet. The sweet potato is the official state vegetable, and the plott hound is the state dog.

Top Producer

North Carolina is the largest producer of tobacco, furniture, brick and textiles in the U.S.

Famous Firsts

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional baseball player. Fayetteville also was home to the first miniature golf course. The first Pepsi was made and served in New Bern, North Carolina, in 1898, and the University of North Carolina was the first public university in the United States. North Carolina also was the first state to establish a state symphony and art museum.

Tallest and Biggest

Mount Mitchell, the tallest mountain in the eastern United States, is in North Carolina. North Carolina's Cape Hatteras boasts the tallest lighthouse in the U.S., and the Albermarle Sound is the largest freshwater sound in the world. Asheville's Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned house in the United States, has 250 rooms.

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About the Author

Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 2,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.